Electrical device



April 23, 1929. J, H COHEN 1,710,531

ELECTRICAL DEVI GE Filed Feb. 17, 1928 INVENToR.

Josep/1H (7a/ze 1 BY ATT' NEY p 'Patented Apr. 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH H. COI-IEN, F BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRICAL DEVICE.

Application led February 17, 1928.

This invention relates to electric igniters for cigar'and other tobacco products, conimonly termed cigar-lighters, and more particularly to the general type of cigar-lighter which fits in or on a holding device from which it may be taken for use.

Although the kind of device now commonly in use is connected to an electric cable, this invention is concerned with the slightly different kind in which the heating unit is removed from a holder bodily and electrically for use.

An object of this invention is the provision of contact means on the holding device adapted to make electrical engagement with a removable igniting unit when holding the same, yet which is dead, i. e. does not carry current, when it stands idle during the time the igniting unit is removed. By the provision of such means, danger of accidentally forming a .dead short-circuit across the source of current-supply, which might result in causing a fire or other material damage, is avoided.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch by means of which the igniting unit is made hot, which switch is located completely in the holding member where it isconcealed and inaccessible. By the provision of such a switch, the spring or other parts which normally holds the circuit open may not be weakened or destroyed by being tampered with. l

And a further object is to provide means for holding the igniting unit on the holder withoutthe use of interlocking connections or detents, thusfacilitating easy removal and replacement of the igniting unit, and further obviating the troubles resulting from such in- -terlocking connections or detents becoming worn-.out'due to repeated use.

Other features and advantages will appear in connection with the descriptionof the ernbodiment of this invention, illustrated in then accompanying drawings. in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of the instrument .board on which the holding device is mounted, the'removable igniting unit being shown supported'onl the holding device.

F igY 2 is a View simi/lar to Fig. 1, showing the holding device moved by the users hand through the medium` of the igniting device so as to close the switch contained in the holding device for the purpose of heating the igniting unit. a

Fig. 3 is similar to'Figs. 1 and 2, showing the holding device and cooperating part on Serial No. 254,962.

the removable igniting unit in elevation, the removable igniting unit being shown removed from the holding device by the users hand.

f Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the holding device. g

F ig. 5 is a front elevation of the igniting unit.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the holding device alone and on an enlarged scale to illustrate the details thereof.

The device of the present invention illustrated is particularly adapted for use on a motor vehicle and comprises a holding device and a removable igniting unit. The former comprises an escutcheon or face plate 12 adapted to lie against the instrument board 13 of a motor vehicle and a post 14 which has a shoulder 15 held firmly to the plate 12 by a spun-over flange 16. The post 14 has a screw-threaded rod 17 which, after being passed through a hole provided in the instrument board to receive it, is adapted to receive a Washer 18 and nut 19, by the tightening of which the face plate 12 is adapted to be drawn against the instrument board to securely fasten the holding device to the instrument board. The holding device also cornprises a cap 2O adapted to telescopically slide upon a flange 21 on the post 14 and is held thereon against removal by the end of the cap being spun or peened over to engage the edge of the flange 21. interposed between the end of the cap 20 and the forward end of the flange 21, is a coiled spring 22 which holds the cap 20 normally in the position shown in Fi gs. 1 and 3, with the peened over end of the. cap in engagement with the Hange 21.

The ignitingunit in the form shown comprises a spiral coil of high resistance Wire 24 embedded in fire clay orthe like 25 in a cup 26 secured to a perforated disk 27, one end of the wire 24 being secured to and electrically connected with the cup 26 and disk 27 at 28, while the other end is pinched-in a transverse slot in the end of a metallic pin 29. The pin 2 9 Cextends through the cup 26 and disk 27 and lsf insulated therefrom by insulating materlal including a fibre or mica disk 30 Which is located betvyeen the disk 27 and a head or contact point 31 on the pin 29. The metal resistance-wire-carrying disk 27 is'adapted to lie in a chamber in a guard 32 forming part of the removable igniting unit being preferably made of phenol-condensation product or like material," and having screw-threads adapted to receive the screw-threaded end 33 on a Cil collar 34 of the saine or any suitable material. The screw-threaded end 33 of the collar 34, when the latter is firmly tightened in the guard 32, confines in the chamber of the guard the disk 27 and the flanged-end 35 of a metal sleeve 36 formed of resilient material having slits to permitrthe tongues 37 formed thereby to normally spring inwardly away from the internal wall of the collar 34.

Vhen the removable igniting unit has been assembled, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it may be placed upon the holding device by taking it in the hand, as shown in Fig. 2, and sliding the sleeve 36 onto the cap 2O as far as it will go, the resilient tongues 37 yieldingly gripping the surface of the cap. When it is in this position, the contact point or head 31 on the pin 29 connected to the inner convolution of the wire 24, will be in electrical and physical engagement with a contact point 38 which is mounted on the end of the cap 2O and insulated therefrom. And, at the same time,

.the sleeve 36 which is connected to the disk 27 and cup 26 connected to the outer convolution of the resistance wire 24, will be electrically connected by contact with the cap 2O through the post`14 and plate 12 and washer 18 to the instrument board 13 which, in most vehicles, is connected through the chassis to the negative side of a battery or other source of current 39, diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 1.

If the dash or instrument board 13 happens to be made of wood, the battery may be connected to the post by the insertion of a wire leading therefrom between the nut 19 and the washer 18.

The other side of the battery 39 is connected to a wire 40 which passes through a tubular opening 41 in the screw-threaded rod 17 and post 14 and has its end embedded in metallic contact 42 carried by a block 43 of insulating material forced in an opening in the end of the post 14 adapted to fit it. The contact 42 on the block is adapted to cooperate with a contact point 45 electrically confnected to the contact point 38 on the cap and insulated from the cap. The wire 40 has rubber or other insulation 47 on its portion which passes through the tubular opening 41.

Current does not normally iow from the battery through the resistance Wire 22 even though the contact point 31 be in engagement with the contact point 33 on the cap, which it normally is, for the circuit is normally opened at contact points 42 and 45, these points forming respective parts of a switch and being normally held apart as shown in Fig. 1, by the action of spring 22 interposed between the cap 20 and the post 14. When it is desired to usey the cigarlighter, the operator grasps the guard 32 and presses the removable igniting unit toward the instrument board 13 asfar as it will go, in the manner and to the position shown in Fig. 2. This causes the cap 2O of the stationary holding device to slide on the post 14 against the tension of the spring 22 until the contact points 45 on the cap engage the contact points 42 on the post 14, whereupon the circuit through the resistance wire 22 and battcry 37 is completed and the-wire 22 becomes hot. After the wire has heated suiiiciently for the purpose, the user slides the igniting unit from the cap and applies the hot resistance-wire-containing portion toI the cigar or cigarette to ignite the same in the usual manner.

When the igniting unit has been used, it is replaced on the holder by sliding the sleeve 36 onto the cap 2O as far as it will go without much effort, the end of the collar 34 being bevelled to facilitate the operation of aligning the opening in the igniting unit with the cap 14. In placing the igniting unit on the post 14, it may happen, if the unit is pressed too hard, that the cap 20 will slide on the post 14 and close the circuit between the contact points 42 and 45. But, this will occur only momentarily, for as soon as the user releases his grasp of the igniting unit, the spring 23 will move the cap 2O outwardly so that the contacts 40 and 43 are separated and the circuit again opened.

It should be noted that the igniting unit is only frictionally held on the holding device, and therefore may be applied thereto and removed therefrom with ease and without a jerking motion which would be present if a detent or snap connection, such as is common in all sorts of electrical devices, were employed. Moreover, in operation, detents of the simpler' kind are subject to severe wear and when used repeatedly, as they would be in a device of thefkind shown, would soon wear out and fail to function. Further, in applying the removable igniting unit to the stationary holder, the number of times that the circuit is unnecessarily closed by inadvertently pressing in the igniting unit is reduced, for the unit smoothly slides on the cap 2O and does not come to rest with a jerk or j ump as wouldbe the case if a detent were employed. The frictional sliding connection of the igniting, unit and the holder is an improvement over the interlocking or bayonet slot type method of holding translating units on a holder, for with the latter it is necessary to find the right point for the pin or other interlocking memberto enter the slot or the equivalent on the holder. With the friction slide'clamp disclosed herein, it is not necessary to place the igniting unit on the holder in any particular manner, thus relieving the operator of the necessity of giving special attention to the way the igniting unit is placed yon the holder.

.It shouldalso be noted that the contact 33, which is exposed, might be brought into engagement with other metallic parts of the car or the cap 20 by accident, as for" instance in handling tools around the instrument 15 fectly flat it desired.

when thema iboard, and this would produce a dead short- 5 normally dead, i. e. does not carrycurrent,

and hence the only parts which are exposed are those which are grounded to the car, thereby preventing the possibility of accidentally producing a dead short-circuit. It is only is pressed inwardly that the contact 38, t lrough its contact 45 on the inner ,side of the cap, makes contact with the current-carrying contact 42 on the post 14.

The escutcheon or face plate 12 may be per- However, it is preferable that it `have an upstanding portion 48 which surrounds the end of the collar 34 when the igniting unit is` in its normal position, that shown in Fig. 1,-so as to conceal and protect 20 the space which is provided between the ends of thecollar 34 and the escutcheon plate 12 proper, which space is provided so that the heating or; igniting'unit may move inwardly toward the instrument board and toward the escutcheon plate, Wit-hout necessarily contacting therewith, to cause the circuit to be kclosed between the contact points 42 and 45. lin the form shown, the upstanding portion 48 is made by pressing or embossing the sheet metal plate 12 in the desired form, but, of

' course, it may be made out of solid material 1f desired.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of this invention, and portions of the improvements may be used withuoutothers. p I

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and for which it is desired to obtain Letters-Patent, is

1. An electric cigar-lighter comprising a holding electrical igniting unit which is adapted to make closed circuit engagement therewith when supported on the holding device; and a switch device mounted on the holding device comprising two cooperating contacts, one of which 1s movable, by hand operation, toward c the other to close aILelectrlc circuit leading from a source of cur-renttothe holding de- -50 vice when the igniting unit is moved in a straight line on the fholding device.

2. In an electrical device'of the class described, a holding device comprising a post a cap slidable on the post and adapted to 55v have Aslid thereon, a removable translating unit; 'a pair of contact members on the cap insulated from each other and adapted to electricallyv engage cooperating contacts on the translating unit WhenV the latter is slid i, home on the cap, one of said contact members o n the cap bemgnormally connected to a source of current supply`and 'the other of the Contact members on the cap being in; sulated from theother contact meinberand being normally dead; `and means 'flil condevice for removably supporting au necting the normally dead contact-member to the source of current supply when the cap is slid on the post.

3. ln an electrical device of the class described, a holding device comprising a post; a cap slidable on the post and adapted to have slid thereon a removable translating unit; a pair of contact members on the cap insulated from each otheand adapted to electrically engage cooperating -contacts on the translating unit when the latter is slid home on the cap, one of said contact members on the cap being normally connected to a source of current supply and the other of the contact members on the cap being insulated from the other contact member and being normally dead; and a contact on the post connected to the source of current supply and adapted to be engaged by the normally dead contact member on the cap to carry current thereto.

4. lin an electrical device of the class described, a holding device com vrising a post; acap slidable on the post'v and adapted to have slid thereon a removable translating unit; a pair of Contact members on thc cap electrically engage cooperating contacts on the translating unit when the latter is slid home on the cap, one of said contact members on the cap being normally connected to a source ot current supply and the other of the contact members on the cap being insulated from the other contact member and being normally dead; a contact on the post connected to the source of current supply and adapted to be engaged by the normally dead contact member on the cap to carry current thereto; and.- means for normally holding the Contact on the post electrically separated from the normally dead contact member on the cap.

v5., ln an electrical device of theclass described, a holding device comprising a post; a cap slidable on the post and adapted to have slid thereon a removable translating unit; a pair of contact members on the cap insulated from each other and adapted to electrically engage cooperating contacts on the translating unit when thelatter is slid home on the cap, one of said contact members on the cap being normally connected to a source of cur-` rentsupply and the other of the contact members on-the cap being insulated from thelother contact member and being normally dead; a-contact onthe post connected vto the source ofcurr'ent supply and adapted 7. In an electrical device of the class de-y scribed, a holding device adapted to support a removable translating unit and having a pair ot' exposed and protruding contact members for engagement with cooperating 'contact members of the tranlating unit, one of said contacts being grounded on the holding device and a normally open switch for maintaining the other contact normally dead to prevent short-circuiting the source of current supply by accidental metallic connection between the two exposed and protruding contact members or between the ungrounded Contact member and anything grounded with the holding device, said switch being closed by movement of the translating unit on the holding device.

S..In an electrical device of the class described, a removable igniti'ng unit adapted to be supported by a holding device comprising a post-like projection, the igniting unit having a hole to receive the projection when the igniting unit is placed on the holding device, and a slit sleeve carried by the igniting unit adapted to engage the projection to frictionally hold the igniting unit on the projection without the use of interlocking devices or detents.

9. In an electrical device of the class described, a holding device, a switchv actuator mounted on the holding device to slide on the latter and having means for supporting thereon for quick removal a translating unit; and means for electrically connecting the translating unit with the switch actuator.

10. In an electrical device of the class described, a stationary support; means mounted for movement on the support and adapted to have mounted thereon a removable translating unit; a pair of contact members on said movable means insulated from each other and adapted to electrically engage contacts on the translating unit-when the latter issupported in normal position upon said movable means, one of said contacts on said movable means being normally connected vto a source of current supply and the other-of the contacts on said movable means being normally dead; and a contact on the stationary support connected to a source of current supply and adapted to be engaged by the normally dead contact member on the movable means to carry current thereto when said movable means is moved on the stationary support.

11. In an electrical device of the class described, a holding device having a movable member thereon adapted to removably supporta translating unit in two-pole electrlcal engagement with the movable member when ,not translating current; and a switch device scribed, a holding device and an igniting de.

vice adapted to be supported on the holding device for quick removal, one of said devices constituting a plug, and the other constituting a socket to receive the plug and having a slit sleeve to engage the .plug member and rictionally hold the plug member in the socket.

13. In an electrical device ot the class described, a holding device and an igniting device adapted to be supported on the holding device for quick removal, one of said devices constituting a plug and the other constituting a socket to receive the plug, and one of said devices having a sleeve, an integral portion of which is normallyy biased to resiliently engage the surface of a portion of the plug to frictionally hold the plug member in the socket.

14. In an electrical device of the class described, a holding device adapted to be mounted on a fixed support and having a switch housing adapted to support a translating unit thereon for quick removal, said switch housing being movable on said holding device and having housed within it a movable circuit closer for closing a current supply circuit including said holding device when the housing is moved.

15. A cigar-lighter comprising a holding device having a projecting contact sleeve and a center contact; and an igniting unit mounted on said holding device for quick removal and having two terminals mounted therein, one of which comprises a center terminal adapted to engage the center contact of the holding device, and the other of which comprises a slit sleeve terminal normally resiliently biased to frietionally engage the projecting sleeve contact of the holding device to hold the igniting unit on the holding device with the center contact thereof in en gagement with the center terminal on the igniting unit.

16. In an electrical device of the class described, a holding device and. an igniting device adapted to be supported on the holding device for quick removal, one of said devices having a plug forming a contact, and the other having a socket to receive the plug and including a slit sleeve forming a contact member for engagement with the plug member to make electrical contact therewith and frictionally hold the plug member in the socket.

17. In an electrical device of the class described, a holding device and an igniting device adapted to be supported on the holding hold the plug niemberin the socket With the plug in electrical engagement With the sleeve of the socket.

Signed at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, this 16th day of February, 1928.

JOSEPH H. COHEN.

@issn/,aimais 1,710,531Q-.Jose`ph H. Cohen, dated April 2s, 1929.

Disclaimer :led 'll/lay Cfa'sco Products llopora'tion,lassen'tlng.Y Hereby enters this disclaimer, to Wit: i

4I hereby disclaim from the seope'oi1 claim l Bridgeport, Genn. ELECTRICAL DEVICE. Bateno 20, i931, by the patentee, assignee,

except those n'which the igniting unit is in two-pole closed circuitl engagement with the holding. device when supported by the holdmg device. i

[Oicz'al GazetgtaJQ/me 16, 1931.]

any and all electric 'cigar lighters 

